The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, reiterated this Tuesday in Congress that Ceuta and Melilla "are Spain and untouchable" and emphasized that any violation of national sovereignty will be responded to "with firmness."
During her speech in the Defense Commission to analyze the crisis generated by the massive entry of immigrants from Morocco into Ceuta at the end of July, the Defense official insisted that "it is essential that no one has the slightest doubt" about the Spanish identity of both cities. On several occasions, she has stressed "so that there is no doubt" that the two autonomous cities "are Spain" and "untouchable."
"It's not that they are Spanish, they are very Spanish, and we will not allow their values of coexistence and tolerance to be put in danger or questioned," Robles stated. In this regard, she warned that "any aggression or attempt of aggression" is directed against "all of Spain," emphasizing that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country "are untouchable."
The minister reminded that the defense of territorial sovereignty and the protection of the security of Spanish citizens correspond to the State, and assured that any breach of these principles will be responded to "with firmness," always within the framework of current legality.
In this part of her speech, Robles avoided explicitly mentioning Morocco, unlike what she did after the massive entry, when she demanded Rabat "not to touch" Ceuta and Melilla. Her words contrast with those of other members of the Executive, who continue to defend that the neighboring country is a "reliable" and "loyal" partner.
Using the crisis for political purposes
"Let’s not fool ourselves: there are many issues that will take time to be known and others that we may never know," the minister pointed out. She then referred to "interested actors who have probably favored this crisis or are using it with a clear political purpose of destabilizing Spain and the EU."
She also referred to the "recognition of the proliferation of hybrid attacks and threats" that, she said, "make it more necessary than ever to reinforce a joint action of democratic societies in defense of values and respect for the life and dignity of all human beings."
Robles has claimed that the EU should maintain an "essential role" in this area, along with police forces, intelligence services, and judicial authorities, with the aim of "fighting against organized crime and against the mafias that traffic in human beings." At the same time, she has defended strengthening economic and social aid to the countries of origin of immigration to address the causes that provoke it.
We must work with Morocco
"Europe and Morocco, as countries that share a border, must continue to work together and without sparing means or efforts to tackle irregular immigration," the minister has limited herself to stating, emphasizing that "what happened on July 30 cannot happen again."
Furthermore, Robles has wanted to convey apologies to the citizens of Ceuta who may have felt "abandoned" or "not sufficiently accompanied" during the crisis.
The Defense Minister has admitted the "anguish" that the people of Ceuta may have experienced and has expressed her "empathy" to them. "I want to tell you that you are not abandoned and you will not be, so do not feel that way," she concluded.